Browsing by Author "Hilioti, Zoe"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Editorial: Manipulation of plant architecture for crop productionPublication . Hilioti, Zoe; Panagiotis, Kalaitzis; Merkouropoulos, Georgios; Antunes, Maria DulcePlant architecture, encompassing the spatial arrangement and morphological characteristics of plant organs, plays a crucial role in agricultural productivity. This Research Topic presents current research and review on the manipulation of plant architecture in major crops, highlighting key findings from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers, and genetic manipulation efforts.
- Targeted gene disruption coupled with metabolic screen approach to uncover the LEAFY COTYLEDON1-LIKE4 (L1L4) function in tomato fruit metabolismPublication . Gago, Custódia; Drosou, Victoria; Paschalidis, Konstantinos; Guerreiro, Adriana; Miguel, Maria Graca; Antunes, Maria Dulce; Hilioti, ZoeKey message Functional analysis of tomato L1L4 master transcription factor resulted in important metabolic changes affecting tomato fruit quality. Abstract Tomato fruits from mutant lines bearing targeted disruption of the heterotrimeric nuclear transcription factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factor (TF) gene LEAFY-COTYLEDON1-LIKE4 (L1L4, NF-YB6), a master regulator of biosynthesis for seed storage proteins and fatty acids, were evaluated for metabolites content and morphology. Metabolic screens using LC-MS/MS-based analysis and physico-chemical methods in different L1L4 mutants of the fourth generation allowed a comparative assessment of the effects of the TF disruption. Mutagenesis resulted in fruits phenotypically similar to wild-type with subtle shape differences in the distal end protrusion and symmetry. Conversely, mutant fruits from independent lines had significant variation in moisture content, titratable acidity and overall metabolite profiles including oxalic and citric acid, fructose, beta-carotene, total polyphenols and antioxidants. Lines 6, 7 and 9 were the richest in beta-carotene and antioxidant activity, line 4 in ascorbic acid and lines 4 and 8 in succinic acid. The reduced content of the anti-nutrient oxalic acid in several mutant fruits suggests that L1L4 gene may regulate the accumulation of this compound during fruit development. Detailed LC-MS/MS analysis of mutant seeds showed substantial differences in bioactive compounds compared to wild-type seeds. Taken together, the results suggest that the L1L4 TF is a significant regulator of metabolites both in tomato fruit and seeds providing a molecular target for crop improvement. Elucidation of the candidate genes encoding key enzymes in the affected metabolic pathways aimed to facilitate the L1L4 gene network exploration and eventually lead to systems biology approaches in tomato fruit quality.
- Targeted plant improvement through genome editing: from laboratory to fieldPublication . Miladinovic, Dragana; Antunes, Maria Dulce; Yildirim, Kubilay; Bakhsh, Allah; Cvejić, Sandra; Kondić-Špika, Ankica; Marjanovic Jeromela, Ana; Opsahl-Sorteberg, Hilde-Gunn; Zambounis, Antonios; Hilioti, ZoeThis review illustrates how far we have come since the emergence of GE technologies and how they could be applied to obtain superior and sustainable crop production. The main challenges of today's agriculture are maintaining and raising productivity, reducing its negative impact on the environment, and adapting to climate change. Efficient plant breeding can generate elite varieties that will rapidly replace obsolete ones and address ongoing challenges in an efficient and sustainable manner. Site-specific genome editing in plants is a rapidly evolving field with tangible results. The technology is equipped with a powerful toolbox of molecular scissors to cut DNA at a pre-determined site with different efficiencies for designing an approach that best suits the objectives of each plant breeding strategy. Genome editing (GE) not only revolutionizes plant biology, but provides the means to solve challenges related to plant architecture, food security, nutrient content, adaptation to the environment, resistance to diseases and production of plant-based materials. This review illustrates how far we have come since the emergence of these technologies and how these technologies could be applied to obtain superior, safe and sustainable crop production. Synergies of genome editing with other technological platforms that are gaining significance in plants lead to an exciting new, post-genomic era for plant research and production. In previous months, we have seen what global changes might arise from one new virus, reminding us of what drastic effects such events could have on food production. This demonstrates how important science, technology, and tools are to meet the current time and the future. Plant GE can make a real difference to future sustainable food production to the benefit of both mankind and our environment.